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srappaport
srappaport
New Member
April 25, 2018
Question

Hardware Switch on FG300E?

  • April 25, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 23341 views

I have a new 300E running 5.6.3 out of the box. No interfaces are configured yet. When I go to create a new interface, I have the option for Software Switch, but not Hardware Switch.  Is there no longer a differentiation or is it simply not available on a 300E?

Thank you.

 

    1 reply

    ede_pfau
    SuperUser
    ede_pfau
    SuperUser
    April 26, 2018

    It took some time to find the schematic. Of the 32 ports (16x GbE, 16x SFP) the SFP ports are directly connected to the NP6, whereas the GbE ports are connected via an Integrated Switch fabric. So, the GbE ports should be able to form a hardware switch.

    The difference between HW and SW switch is that the SW switch is putting load on the CPU. The 300E has got a 4 core, 4 tasks CPU which is capable but you would always try to use a hardware switch.

     

    Have a look at the 'lan' or 'internal' port in System > Network > Interfaces: is it made up of single ports? This is a hardware switch then. You could detach a port to use it elsewhere.

    srappaport
    srappaportAuthor
    New Member
    April 26, 2018

    Thanks for looking into that, Ede.

    Out of the box, all ports are individual interfaces - no "internal" or "lan" interface, just port1-port28, ha, etc.

    When I go to click Create New, Interface, I get only the following options: VLAN, 802.3ad Aggregate, Redundant Interface, Loopback Interface, Software Switch, and WiFi SSID.  There is no Hardware Switch option.

    ede_pfau
    SuperUser
    ede_pfau
    SuperUser
    April 26, 2018

    OK, it seems there might be only one hardware switch available.

    The config is found in the CLI (from the v5.6.2 Ref. manual):

     

    config system physical-switch
        edit { name }
        # Configure physical switches.
            set age-enable { enable | disable } Enable/disable layer 2 age timer.
            config port
                edit { name }
                # Configure member ports.
                    set speed { option } Speed.
                        auto Automatically adjust speed.
                        10full 10M full-duplex.
                        10half 10M half-duplex.
                        100full 100M full-duplex.
                        100half 100M half-duplex.
                        1000full 1000M full-duplex.
                        1000half 1000M half-duplex.
                        1000auto 1000M auto adjust.
                    set status { up | down } Interface status.
                        up Interface up.
                        down Interface down.
                    set name { string } Physical port name. size[15]
                next
            set age-val { integer } Layer 2 table age timer Value. range[0-4294967295]
            set name { string } Name. size[15]
        next
    end

    config system virtual-switch
        edit "internal"
            set physical-switch "sw0"
            config port
                edit "internal1"
                next
                edit "internal2"
                next
                edit "internal3"
                next
                edit "internal4"
                next
            end
        next
    end

    The 'virtual switch' config is from my 60E.

    HTH.

     

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